No King holiday sales

It is interesting to observe that businesses, especially retailers offer special sales for most national holidays. On Monday, when the nation celebrated the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. there didn’t seem to be any special sales or newspaper fliers for sales.

One would like to think that it is out of respect for Dr. King that there is no emphasis on sales on this day. If there are sales on the holiest of days, are there no sales on the King holiday because of minimalizing the day or is it because of no respect?

Rev. Gary R. Charles

Independence

Gun control needed

What seems to be the problem with the National Rifle Association and the Republican Party on gun control? Our president and vice president have had enough of gun violence, and so have the American people.

I say it’s time that we as citizens of the United States finally regroup and listen to what our president and vice president are trying to do for gun control. A cheap shot toward the president’s daughters about them having Secret Service protection was totally uncalled for.

And then the NRA tried very hard to deny it, stating it did not say one thing about Obama’s daughters.

Tony Lordi

Kansas City

Future hardships

With the national debt being our most pressing crisis and a national defense issue, why is Sen. Claire McCaskill not serious about cutting annual spending to reduce our annual deficits?

Each year we spend more than the last and borrow more to do it.

McCaskill’s lack of leadership and irresponsibility is leading this country to bankruptcy, and she doesn’t appear to care about the burden it’s putting on our children and grandchildren.

McCaskill seems more interested in serving the Democratic Party than the people she represents.

I’m very disappointed in her partisanship and lack of will to do what needs to be done to preserve the liberties and economic freedom of the citizens she serves. My hope is that her conscience will lead her into more responsible actions, but, if not, may her family, children and grandchildren be forced to endure the hardships that she is forcing upon all of us.

Brian Maday

Independence

Keeping Kemper Arena

In Lynn Horsley’s Jan. 18 article, “Tear down Kemper? Not so fast,” is the sentence, “American Royal leaders wonder where all these Kemper supporters were seven years ago when Kansas City decided to replace it with the downtown Sprint Center.”

I beg to differ. When the Sprint Center was forced down Kansas City’s throat, the public was told that Kemper Arena would continue to be the premier agricultural venue and the Sprint Center would be for a still nonexistent sports team and for concerts.

And then, lo and behold, suddenly there were truck rallies and rodeos at the Sprint Center. Not to mention that Kemper has a great deal of parking readily available, and it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. I guess greed does drive all things. I personally feel like I’ve been lied to, and it was always the intention to get rid of Kemper.

I won’t go to the Sprint Center. I won’t fight all the traffic, spend a half-hour looking for parking and sit in an arena that gives me vertigo.

Toni’ Snyder

Kansas City

Obama spurs gun sales

President Barack Obama’s predictable overreach on guns, complete with the also-predictable corny optics of being surrounded by children while issuing 23 executive orders to further reduce our Second Amendment rights, has some very ironic unintended consequences (1-17, A1, “Ready for an uphill fight”).

Firearm sales are going through the roof. Gun movement hasn’t been this brisk since Attorney General Eric Holder gave them away to Mexican drug cartels.

Even more good news, this is one program from Obama that might actually improve the economy as U.S. gun manufacturers are scrambling to keep up with the inventory requirements.

Kudos to President Obama.

Gary Pederson

Kansas City

1-percenters’ pain

On Aug. 5, 2001, I was hit as a pedestrian in a crosswalk by a car going 53 mph in a 25 mph zone.

I was left permanently disabled and depend on Social Security to live today.

Just before Christmas, President Barack Obama’s Social Security Administration told me that I was receiving a 1 percent cost-of-living increase for 2013. Try paying rising utility bills, grocery store bills, gas prices and medicine costs on 1 percent.

While President Obama vacations in Hawaii at taxpayers’ expense, I’m stuck in the snow and cold in Prairie Village. Thanks for that 1 percent raise, President Obama. I really, really appreciate it. Really, really.

Frank J. Smist Jr.

Prairie Village

Struggling with cancer

I just would like an answer from our president or anyone who can give me one.

I have a sister trying to survive. She is receiving chemotherapy. She lost her job because of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

She is now on $1,100-a-month disability.

Her COBRA insurance is $940 a month. She has $160 a month left over to live on. She can’t get Medicare for another year. Where is Obamacare? Or is this what he was talking about five years ago when he first ran for president when he stated there will be no high premiums for cancer patients or pre-existing conditions?

I’ve already lost one sister to pancreatic cancer.

Don’t cancer patients struggle enough, Mr. President?

Deborah McKahan

Kansas City

Comets game cheers

I took my three kids (ages 8, 6 and 4) to a recent Comets indoor soccer game, and the experience exceeded my expectations. It was a family environment through and through, yet their cauldron fan section added a big-league flavor.

From the game to the time-out promotions to the price, the Comets are offering an excellent entertainment option.

Doug Gamble

Kansas City

Stranger’s kindness

Coming out of a print shop recently on State Line Road and 83rd Street at lunch hour, I found my car locked with the keys inside. I had to return to the class I’d been taking that morning and had no time to wait for a tow truck.

Seeing a young woman at a gas station across the street, I approached her and reported my misfortune. “Would you be able to take me to 119th Street and Metcalf Avenue?” I asked. “I’ll pay $10.”

“Hop in,” she replied.

To make a long story short, she refused the money I offered. “But we agreed,” I insisted, only to hear the same answer. Before leaving her car, I learned her name is Rachael and she works at Trader Joe’s. A few days afterward, I went to Trader Joe’s at 119th Street and Mission Road, but she wasn’t there.

The manager said she was visiting her family in Maine and wasn’t able to fly back because of the storm damage left by Sandy. I prayed for Rachael’s safe return so that I could thank her for her kind deed she rendered to me, a stranger.

Therese Park

Overland Park